268 IN THE VISION OF GOD
of the friend towards the yawning mouth of the cave at
some distance. Now Ramdas could not resist; he rushed
in the direction like wind leaving the friends behind.
At the entrance of the cave he found standing a tall
thin sadhu, wearing only a kaupin. Ramdas had been
told by the friends, who guided him, that the cave was
occupied by a mahatrna.
Directly he saw the sadhu, he ran towards him and
prostrated at his feet. The sadhu did not seem to like this
mode of salutation. He remonstrated by the gesture of his
hands. He entered the cave and Ramdas followed him. It
was a large and spacious cave about ten feet high and
fifteen feet wide and twenty feet long. As Ramdas stepped
in he observed at the left-hand corner a number of tins
arranged in a line. The floor was covered at the front by
two gunny bags and by a wide, white quilt at the further
end which served as the sadhu's seat. In the centre of the
cave there was a small fire-place or dhuni. At the mouth
of the cave, on the right, there was a neatly stacked pile of
firewood. Ramdas sat down on one of the gunny bags and
the sadlm occupied his seat. By this time the friends who
guided him also arrived. They remained for a few minutes
and then taking leave departed. Ram after all brought
His child to the ashram.